Patterning mechanism for knitting machines



Jan. 10, 1939. L. H. LEEDHAM 2,143,832

' I PATTERNING MECHANISM FDR KNITTING MACHINES Filed Jlily 13, 1937 5 Sneaks-Sheet 2 c 6: nvvavme,

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Jan. 10, ED I PATTERNING MECHANISM, FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed July 13, 1957 5 Shee'ts-Sheet s A TTORNE Y Jan. 10, 1939. L. H. LEEDH AM PATTERNING MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed July 15, 1937 5 Sheets-$heet 4 A a 7/ a Ami/YE Y Jan. 10, LEEDHAM PATTERNING MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed July 3 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 lM/E/VTOI? a v BY W Patented Jan. 10, 1939 PATTERNING MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES Leslie Herbert Leedham, Leicester, England, as-

signor to Wiidt and Company Limited, Leicester, England, a British company Application July 13, 1937, Serial No. 153,439 In Great Britain July 18, 1936 20 Claims. (01. 66-14) This invention relates to pattern mechanism for knitting machines, and has reference to pattern mechanism applicable to knitting machines of the independent needle type for selective operation of the needles to produce pattern, design or like effects by stitch variation, thread selection and any other of the known methods.

The invention concerns pattern mechanism of the type including selecting elements or bits adapted tobe pivotally mounted in the needle grooves or tricks or in corresponding grooves or tricks in an associated bed or carrier, said selecting elements or bits having selecting butts or like formations in different positions lengthwise thereon, and selecting cam means adapted to operate selectively upon the said butts or like formations under the control of a pattern controlling device or unit for the purpose of determining which of the needles shall be subsequently caused to move endwise by associated actuating means for patterning or designing purposes.

The pattern mechanism provided by this invention is applicable to knittingmachines of the independentneedle type generally, i. e. to both circular knitting machines and hat knitting machines, rib and plain, and, in the case of circular knitting machines, to both machines of the rotary cylinder type and machines of the stationary cylinder type.

It is primarily the intention to apply the improved patterning mechanism to circular knitting machines of the double axially opposed, e. g. superposed, needle cylinder type wherein independently slidable double-ended needles are cam operated through the medium of sliders by means of which transfer of needles from one cylinder to the other can be effected automatically, such as for changing from plain knitting to rib knitting, and vice versa, or from one rib combination such as 1/1 to another, e. g. 2/2 or some other broader rib, and vice versa. In this connection the invention is applicable to superposed cylinder machines which operate simply with circular motion for knitting tubular fabric, garments, or garment lengths such as for pullovers, slipovers, jumpers and the like, as well as to machines of the same type which are adapted to operate with rotary motion to produce circular work, and with reciprocatory motion to produce pouches, as for ex- 60 ample in the manufacture of seamless hosiery, the principal purpose of the application of the invention to machines of this characteristic type being to effect transference of needles from one cylinder to the other, for example from the plain 55 cylinder to the rib cylinder, in a pattern controlled selective manner in order to produce a diversity of fancy rib and like eflects in the fabric or articles produced on such machines. For instance, the improved pattern mechanism may be applied advantageously to a seamless hose ma- 5 chine of this type so as to enable stockings, half hose, socks and like articles having tops either of ordinary rib or with rib pattern or fancy effects, and leg and foot portions which are also similarly patterned to be produced in a continuous manner. 10 The said mechanism may also be advantageously applied to machines adapted to produce tubular body garments or garment lengths, for the purpose of producing a garment or garment length with a rib bottom of ordinary (2/2) or fancy 15 character, and a fancy body portion. The invention is not limited in this respect, however, as the said pattern mechanism may be applied to machines of the same type and to circular knitting machines of other types for the purpose of exer- 20 cising pattern controlled selective operation of needles for any other known purposes, such as stitch variation or thread selection, or both.

, According to the present invention there is provided a pattern mechanism of the type before 25 referred to in which each of the selecting elements or bits is adapted to have operative engagement or equivalent relationship with a companion needle, or with an associated slider or an intermediate jack at or adjacent to its tail end, whereby 30 when such elements or bits are acted upon by the selecting cam means and make contact with the actuating means endwise movement of the corresponding needles necessary for the particular purpose in view is effected. 35

The present invention is distinguished from previously proposed pattern mechanisms of the type concerned by reason of the fact that the opposite,

e. g. upper, ends of the selecting elements or bits do not at any time have operative engagement or 40 relationship with thesaid needles, sliders or jacks.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a plan view, partly in section, of so much of a circular knitting machine of the superposed needle cylinder type as is necessary to illus- 45 trate the application thereto of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view of the same taken on the line 11-11 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a detail vertical sectional view illustrating a selecting element or hit and an associated needle operating slider in the normal position.

Figure 4 is a similar view showing the positions occupied by a selected element or bit and the 66 6 associated slider when they have been acted upon by the actuating cam as will be hereinafter more fully described.

Figure 5 is another similar view showing the manner in which an unselected element or bit moves idly when acted upon by the said actuating cam.

Fig. 6 is a development of the camsystem associated with the bottom cylinder of the machine.

Figure 7 is a detail sectional view taken on the line VII-VII of Figure 1.

Figure 8 is a vertical sectional view illustrating the modification aforesaid.

Figure 9 is a perspective view drawn to an enlarged scale of a return cam employed in conjunction with the modified form of pattern mechanism shown in Figure 8.

Like parts are designated by similar reference characters throughout the drawings.

Referring tothe drawings, i designates the bottom needle cylinder, 2 the opposing top cylinder (Figure 4) 3 the needle actuating sliders and 4 one of the independently slidable double-ended needles which are adapted to be transferred from one cylinder to the other. As will be seen, the cylinders are vertically disposed and the pattern mechanism now to be described is applicable for use below the sliders in the bottom needle cylinder l. The said mechanism includes selecting elements or bits 5 each of which is provided with one or more frontal selecting butts such as 6 and with a rearwardly projecting butt 1 or like formation at the lower end. Conveniently each element or bit 5 is furnished on its front edge with a series of frangible selecting butts which can be broken away to provide a butt or butts in the required position or positions. Each element or hit, moreover, is provided as at 8 with a fulcrum point or equivalent at the back at or near the upper end. Associated with the selecting elements or bits 5 are jack-like extensions 9, one on each slider, to be acted upon for patterning purposes, each of these extensions being of a relatively thin character and formed at the lower extremity with a portion in which splays outwardly to a slight extent. Each extension 9, together with the slider of which it forms a part, is located at the back or in the bottom of the groove or trick ii in which it is to work and the companion selecting element or bit 5 works in the same groove or trick with its fulcrum point 8 in contact or engagement with the front edge of the extension or with the corresponding edge of that portion of the corresponding slider adjacent to the upper end of said extension. The grooves or tricks ii, which, in the specific example illustrated are continuations of the customary needle tricks l2 in the cylinder i, are made comparatively deep to accommodate both the slider extensions 9 and the elements or bits 5. The form of a needle trick and its continuation is shown more clearly on the left-hand side of Figure 2. Thus the grooves or tricks II are provided in an extension l3 of the bottom needle cylinder I. Alternatively, however, the said grooves or tricks may be provided in a supplementary cylinder suspended from or attached co-axially to the bottom cylinder. The arrangement is such that the jack-like extensions 9 have the portions I 0 thereof located above the rearwardly projecting butts I or like formations, and normally the lower ends of the selecting elements or bits 5 project forwards from the grooves or tricks II with the butts I out of alignment with the extensions 9.

The selecting elements or bits, when in the normal position indicated in Figure 3, are prevented from falling out of the grooves or tricks ii by a carrier ring I4 (the primary purpose of which is hereinafter specified) and a sectional ring l5 attached to the inside of the bottom cam box i6. In this connection each of the selecting elements orbits, besides being provided with a tail portion H which normally rests against the inner edge of the ring I4, is formed at its upper end with a reduced portion 3 the front edge of which rests at all times against the inner surface of the ring i5 while the adjacent shouldered portion I 9 of the selecting element or bit permanently engages beneath the lower edge of the said last mentioned ring.

For selectively operating the selecting elements or bits 5 there is provided a bank of as many spring controlled selecting cams such as 20 as the maximum number of butt positions provided on any single element or bit, and a pattern controlling unit 2i in the form of a drum, cylinder or like body furnished, as shown, with cam actuating pins 22 or, alternatively, with screws or cylinder 2i has attached thereto a ratchet wheel 26 adapted to be engaged by a spring-controlled pawl 2! (spring not shown). This pawl is carried by one arm of a two-armed lever 28 which is mounted to turn on the axis of the drum or cylinder 2| and furnished on its other arm with a roller 29 adapted, as is customary in pattern controlling mechanism of this character, to be acted upon by cam means rotating in time with the machine. Thus, whenever the machine is in operation, the lever 28 is continuously oscillated to impart to the pawl the necessary strokes to rack round the drum or cylinder 2i in timed relation with other moving parts of the machine. The drum or cylinder 2| is surrounded in the usual way by a cylindrical casing 30 which is appropriately slotted both in the region of the selecting earns 20 and the pawl 21. The selecting cam means may be of any other suitable form and arrangement.

The actuating means aforesaid conveniently consist of an upthrow or jack raising cam 3| which is formed or provided on the carrier ring i4 and is of the shape shown more clearly in Figure 6. In this specific example of the invention the selecting elements or bits 5 and the actuating cam 3i are formed and arranged so that all of the said elements or bits make contact with the cam but only those which are selected, i. e. engaged by an operative selecting cam 20 and pressed inwards so that they pivot backwards on their fulcrum points 8 and are thereby positioned in operative relationship with the associated jacklike extensions 9, as indicated on the right-hand side of Figure 2, function to operate the corresponding needles 4, while the remainder, i. e.

those which occupy the normal inoperative posi-' of each selecting element or bit which is acted upon by the actuating cam 3| is designated by the reference numeral 32 and, as will be seen, this portion is in the form of a frontal butt or shoulder and formed at its lower edge with a notch or recess 33, the purpose of which is to prevent the element or bit-in the event of ,it being unselected at the selecting point S- from accidently moving into operative position with its rearwardly projecting butt I or like formation immediately beneath the portion I of the corresponding jack-like extension 9. As will be readily understood, the arrangement is such that immediately an unselected element or hit commences to travel over the actuating cam 3| the upper edge of the latter enters the notch or recess 33 and thereby holds the element or bit in its normal inoperative position while it is being raised (see Figure 5). The upper edge of the cam 3| and the lower edges of portions 32 aforesaid may be and preferably are slightly inclined suitably to effect satisfactory engagement between these parts. For the same reason the upper edges of the rearwardly projecting butts I and the lower extremities of the jack-like extensions 9 are similarly inclined.

Cam means are provided for action upon the selected selecting elements or bits 5 to restore same to normal position preparatory to -a reselection being effected. In the example illustrated the said means include a cam or, as shown, a cam surface 34 for returning all selecting ele ments or bits to the normallevel after they have passed over the actuating cam 3| and a cam, such as 35 (Figure 1) located behind the elements or bits at or adjacent to their tail ends for pushing previously selected elements or bits outwards preparatory to re-selection. As will be seen, the cam surface 34 is formed on the section l5 of the ring l5 and the latter is cut away as at 36 to permit the selecting elements or bits to rise as the portions 32 pass over the cam 3|. The surface 34 depresses the elements or bitsby reason of the engagement with said surface of the shouldered portions IQ of the elements or bits. The cam 35 is formed or provided on the carrier ring l4 and is formed with a curved face' 31 which is disposed immediately beneath the cam surface 34 and adapted to act on the rear edges of the tail portions II of the elements or bits to move the latter outwards in the manner indicated in dot-and-dash lines in Figure l.

, All the elements or bits, after passing the cam 3|, are preferably held in the normal inoperative position until they again approachthe selecting point S. Conveniently for this purpose the carrier ring I4 is formed with an annular recess or track 38 for reception of the tail portions H of the selecting elements or bits. The idea is that the said tail portions of unselected elements or bits pass directly from the actuating cam 3| into the track or recess 38 while the correspondingportions of selected elements are directed into the said track or recess by the cam 35. In the particular construction shown it will be noted that there is a gap a in the annular recess or track 38 but this is only made for constructional considerations and has no other significance. Immediately in advance of the selecting point S the said track or recess is provided between the carrier ring I4 and a cam 39 attached thereto. I

Conveniently the carrier ring is made up in sections and is attached, e. g. by means of screws, to an annular flange 40 provided on the inside and at the lower end of an auxiliary cam box 4| which is interposed between the lower end of the cam box l6 and the bottom plate 25.

When, as in the example now being described, the improved pattern mechanism is applied to the production of fancy rib and like effects by selective needle transference in a machine of the characteristic type herein before referred to, the said mechanism is preferably associated with the plain cylinder as already mentioned. The invention is not to be regarded as limited in this respect, however, as by simple inversion of the parts, where necessary, the said mechanism may be used in conjunction with the rib cylinder.

The pattern mechanism may be employed to effect complete transference of selected needles from one cylinder to the other. Alternatively, and as shown, the said mechanism can be used simply to initiate such transference of selected needles, the action in this instance being completed by a transfer cam 42 into the range of which the sliders 3 of selected needles are raised by the pattern mechanism. The customary transfer butts 43 are provided on the sliders 3 and it is these butts which are acted upon by the cam 42. The manner in which the selection takes place is indicated in Figure 6. The customary knitting and associated cams of the bottom cam system are shown at K and the existing transfer cam 44 is adapted to be moved in the usual manner to and from an operative position for normal transfer purposes by any conventional means. In any event, the sliders are raised from a prearranged level to an extent sufiicient for the purpose in view. The pattern mechanism may be employed to produce purl designs by needle transference and the expression fancy rib and like effects should therefore be regarded as including such designs.

As will be understood, needles corresponding with sliders which arenot acted upon by the pattern mechanism during the production of fancy rib or like effects are caused to knit by the corresponding cams, while those needles which are transferred as the result of the selective action of the patterning mechanism are caused to. knit by the knitting cams associated with the opposing cylinder.

When the pattern mechanism is employed for patterning by other methods such as stitch variation, e. g. by producing tuck, miss-stitch or float effects, the needles may be raised from a non-knitting level to a tucking level or to a clearing height, or from tucking position to clearing height according to the effect to be produced.

Means may be provided for automatically nullifying or preventing selective action by the pattern mechanism for predetermined intervals to produce fabric with plain or ordinary ribbed sections or areas as well as sections or areas containing fancy rib, such as miss-stitch, float and like effects. Conveniently for this purpose a cam is located between the selecting point and the actuating means behind the selecting elements orbits at or adjacent to their tail ends, said cam being normally inoperative but adapted to be rendered operative for predetermined intervals for the purpose of causing all selected elements or bits to be pushed outwards again. In the specific example shown in the drawings a nullifying cam for this purpose is indicated at 45. As will be seen, a portion of the said cam is disposed beneath the cam 39, which latter is cut away on its underside to permit of the nullifying cam being moved or permitted to move upwards from its normal inoperative position, indicated in Figures 6 and 7, to its fully operative position, indicated at 45' in Figure 7. .The cam 45, moreover, has a suitably curved operative face 40, is formed or provided on a slide 41 and projects into the auxiliary cam box 4|. The slide 41 is attached in any suitable manner to the upper end of a short vertical spindle 48 which is adapted for sliding movement in the bottom plate 25. A compression spring 49 is interposed between the underside of the slide and the top surface of the said bottom plate and the slide is normally held depressed against the spring action with the nullifying cam 45 inoperative by a bar' or lever 50. Conveniently this bar or lever is pivoted in a small bracket 5| attached to the bottom plate and adapted to be moved, i. e. turned on its pivot, to permit the slide to move upwards to render the cam 45 fully operative by means of any suitable form under the control of the existing controlling mechanism of the machine or/and an auxiliary timing or pattern chain or equivalent suitably controlled and operated. For example, and as shown, the baror lever 50 is connected at ane end to a link 52 which is adapted to be operated from a timing or pattern chain and at the other end to another lever 53 which is pivoted at 54 and operable by or from the usual cam drum of the machine to move the bar or lever 50 in the required manner and at the appropriate times. This arrangement enables the nullifying cam 45 to be controlled either by the cam drum or by the timing or pattern chain, as may be required, at different stages in the production of a knitted article, e. g. a stocking.

A small fixed plate 55 is provided to guide the slide 41 when it is moved from one plane to another.

Means may be and preferably are also provided for restricting patterning to prearranged portions (circumferentially) of the knitted fabric, such for example as the instep of a stocking, half hose, sock or like article.

For example, the actuating cam 3| may be movably arranged and automatically moved to and from its operative position at predetermined intervals by means of any conventional form. Preferably for this purpose,'however, some of the elements or bits 5, for example substantially one half of the series, may be provided with relativly long tail ends and the remainder with shorter tail ends extending beyond the aforesaid rear butts or feet,-and a return cam movable into different planes under pattern control may be provided for action on either the long or both long and short tails so as partly or wholly to nullify the selective action according to requirements. I a shorter tail end at I?" in Figure 3 and in the example illustrated the nullifying cam 45 is emplayed for the purpose just described. Thus the bar or lever 50 is operated at the appropriate times to'cause the cam 45 to occupy one of three positions, viz. a normal inoperative position where it is clear of the tail ends of all the selecting elements or bits, an intermediate position wherein it can act on the long tails alone for pushing outwards those of the long tailed selecting elements or bits which are selected at S, and a fully operative position (indicated at 45' in Figure 7) in which it can act on both long and short tails so as wholly to nullify the selective- A long tail end is indicated at l1 and auaaaa that just described could, of course, be applied to a construction in which each of the selecting elements or bits is adapted to act directly on the corresponding needle or upon an intermediate jack which is either separate from or formed in one piece with said needle.

Again, instead of providing jack-like extensions 9 on the sliders 3 as in the specific example hereinbefore described, separate intermediate jacks may be provided between said sliders and the selecting elements or bits.

In the modification illustrated in Figures 8 and 9 applicable for use below the needles such as 56 inv a vertically disposed needle cylinder 51, or the sliders in the bottom needle cylinder of a ma-- chine of the superposed needle cylinder type, the selecting elements or bits 58 are provided each with one or more frontal selecting butts 59 and, at the lower end, with a rearwardly projecting butt or like formation 60 of the form shown. Each selecting bit 58 is provided with a fulcrum pont 6| or equivalent at the back at or near the upper end. Associated with the selecting elements or bits are slidable intermediate jacks such as 62; one for each needle (or slider) to be acted upon for patterning purposes, each of these jacks being of a relatively thin character having enlarged ends 63 and 64. Each jack is located at the back or in the bottom of the groove or trick in which it is to work and the companion selecting element or bit works in the same groove or trick with its fulcrum point or equivalent in contact or engagement with the front edge of the jack. Spring retaining bands or rings 65 and 66 are provided for the purpose of preventing the jacks and selecting elements or bits from falling out of the grooves or tricks. The arrangement is such that intermediate jacks 62 have their upper ends 63 located beneath the lower ends of the needles 56 (or needle actuating sliders) and their lower ends 64 located above the rearwardly projecting butts or like formations 60, and normally the lower ends of the selecting elements or bits project forwards from the grooves or tricks with the butts or feet out of alignment with the jacks.

In this example the actuating cam means consist of an upthrow or raising cam 61 suitably a for patterning or designing purposes.

By means of this arrangement when a selecting element or bit 58 is selected it is pressed inwards at the lower end to bring rearwardly projecting butt or foot 60 under the lower end of the companion liftingjack 62 and into the range of the upthrow or raising cam 61 so that as a result the selecting element or bit, lifting jack and needle are raised as and for the purpose intended. The cam means for restoring selected selecting elements or bits to normal position preparatory to re-selection being effected are indicated at 68 and are constructed and arranged for action on the selecting elements or bits at the top and adjacent front portions. The said cam means conveniently consist of appropriately shaped cam faces 69 and 10 provided, as shown, on a single block, or of two separate cam pieces suitably shaped and disposed.

Thus in the modification Just described the lower ends of the selecting elements or bits 58 are normally out of the range of the actuating cam 61, and selected elements or bits are generic sense to include, where the context so admits, needles, needle actuating sliders, suchas are used in knitting machines of the double axially opposed needle cylinder type, or intermediate jacks'which are interposed between the needles or sliders and the selecting elements.

What I claim then is:-

-1. Pattern mechanism for knitting machines of the independent needle type comprising, in combination, actuating means for effecting endwise movement of knitting instrumentalities, a carrier having grooves therein, selecting elements, one for each knitting instrumentality, adapted to'be pivotally mounted in said grooves and having selecting butts in different positions lengthwise thereon, selecting cam means adapted to operate upon said butts, a pattern device for controlling said selecting cam means so that the latter operate selectively upon the selecting butts for the purpose of determining which of the knitting instrumentalities shall be subsequently moved endwise bythe aforesaid actuating means, each of said selecting elements being adapted in the region of its tail end to have operative relationship with a companion knitting instrumentality whereby when such elements are acted upon by the selecting cam means and make contact with the actuating means endwise movement of the corresponding knitting instrumentalities is effected, for the purpose herein set forth.

2. Pattern mechanism for knitting machines of the independent needle type comprising, in combination, actuating means for effecting endwise movement of needles, a carrier having therein grooves, selecting elements, one for each needle, adapted to be pivotally mounted in said grooves and having selectingbutts in different positions lengthwise thereon, selecting cam means adapted to operate upon said butts, a pattern device for controlling said selecting cam means so that the latter operate selectively upon the selecting butts for the purpose of determining which of the needles shall be subsequently moved endwise by the aforesaid actuating means, each of said selecting elements being adapted in the region of its tail end to have operative relationship with a companion needle whereby when such elements are acted upon by the selecting cam means and make contact with the actuating means, endwise movement of the corresponding needles is effected, forthe purposes herein set forth. r

3. Pattern mechanism for knitting machines of the independent needle type comprising, in combination, actuating means for eifecting endwise movement of needles, a carrier having therein grooves, selecting elements, one for each needle, adapted to be pivotally mounted in said grooves and having selecting butts in different positions lengthwise thereon, aseries of needle actuating instrumentalities, one for each needle, selecting cam means adapted to operate upon said butts, a pattern device for controlling said selecting cam means so that the latter operate selectively upon the selecting butts for the purpose of determining which of the needles shall be subsequently moved endwise by the aforesaid actuating means, each of said selecting elements being adapted in the region of its tail end to have operative relationship with the companion needle actuating instrumentality whereby when such elements are acted upon by the selecting cam means and make contact with the actuating means, endwise movement of the corresponding needles is effected, for the purpose herein set forth.

4. Pattern mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the selecting elements are disposed in front of the knitting instrumentalities in the same grooves, which latter are accordingly made sufliciently deep to'accommodate both.

5. Pattern mechanism for-knitting machines of the independent needle type comprising, in

a combination, actuating means for effecting endquently moved endwise by the aforesaid actuating means, each of said selecting elements being formed in the region of its tail end with a rearwardly projecting foot adapted to extend under the adjacent end of the associated knitting instrumentality whereby when'such elements are acted upon by the selecting cam means and make contact with the actuating means endwise movement of the corresponding knitting instrumentalities is effected, for the purpose herein set forth.

6. Pattern mechanism for knitting machines of the independent needle type comprising, in combination, actuating means for effecting endwise movement of knitting instrumentalities, a carrier having grooves therein, selecting elements, one for each knitting instrumentality, adapted to be pivotally mounted in said grooves and having selecting butts in different positions lengthwise thereon, selecting cam means for acting upon said butts and comprising a plurality of selecting cams individually movable to and from an operative position, 'a pattern device for controlling the movementsof the said selects ing cams so that the latter operate selectively upon the selecting butts for the purpose of determining which of the knitting instrumentalities shall be subsequently moved endwise by the aforesaid actuating means, each of said selecting elements being adapted in the region of its tail end to have operative relationship with a companion knitting instrumentality whereby when such elements are acted upon by the selecting cam means and make contact with the actuating means, endwise movement of the corresponding knitting instrumentalities is efiected, for the purpose herein set forth.

'7. In a knitting machine of the independent needle type, pattern mechanism comprising, in combination, a carrier having grooves therein, selecting elements, one for each knitting instrumentality, adapted tobe pivotally mounted in said grooves and having selecting butts in diiferent positions lengthwise thereon, selecting cam means adapted to operate upon said butts, a pattern device for controlling said selecting cam means, actuating means for effecting endwise movement of knitting instrumentalities and adapted for action upon the lower ends of selected selecting elements for the purpose of raising the latter to effect the aforesaid endwise movement so that the knitting instrumentalities are caused to function for patterning purposes, each of said selecting elements being adapted in the region of its tail end to have operative relationship with a companion knitting instrumentality whereby when such elements are acted upon by the selecting cam means and make contact with the actuating means endwise movement of the corresponding knitting instrumentalities is effected, for the purpose herein set forth.

8. In a knitting machine of the independent needle type, pattern mechanism comprising, in combination, a carrier having grooves therein, selecting elements, one for each knitting instrumentality, adapted to be pivotally mounted in said grooves and having selecting butts in different positions lengthwise thereon, selecting cam means, actuating means for eflecting endwise tern device for controlling said selecting cam means, actuating means for effecting endwise movement of knitting instrumentalities and adapted for action upon the lower ends of selected selecting elements for the purpose of raising the latter to effect the aforesaid endwise movement so that the knitting instrumentalities are caused to function for patterning purposes, each of said selecting elements being adapted in the region of its tail end to have operative relationship with a companion knitting instrumentality whereby when such elements are acted upon by the selecting cam means and make contact with the actuating means endwise movement of the corresponding knitting instrumentalities is effected, the selecting cam means being adapted to cause selected elements to move pivotally into operative relationship with the companion knitting instrumentalities and the general arrangement being such that all of said selecting elements make contact with the actuating means but only those which are selected function to operate the corresponding knitting. instrumentalities, while the remainder are merely moved idly by said actuating means.

9. Pattern mechanism according to claim '7, wherein the selecting elements are normally out .of the range of the'actuating means and the selecting cam means are adapted to cause selected elements to move pivotally into operative relationship with the companion knitting instrumentalities and into the range of the said actuating means.

10. In a knitting machine of the independent needle type, pattern mechanism comprising, in combination, actuating means for efiecting endwise movement of knitting instrumentalities, a carrier having grooves therein, selecting elements, one for each knitting instrumentallty, adapted to be pivotally mounted in said grooves and having selecting butts in different positions lengthwise thereon, selecting cam means adapted to operate upon said butts, a pattern device for controlling said selecting cam means so that the latter operate selectively upon the selecting butts for the purpose of determining which of the knitting instrumentalities shall be subsequently moved endwise by the aforesaid actuating means and cam means for action on selected selecting elements to restore the same to normal position preparatory to a re-selection being effected, each of said selecting elements being adapted in the region of its tail end to have operative relationship with a companion knitting instrumentality whereby auasaa when such elements are acted upon by the selecting cam means and make contact with the actuating means, endwise movement of the corresponding knitting'instrumentalities is effected, for the purpose herein set forth.

11. In a knitting machine of the independent needle type, pattern mechanism comprising, in combination, actuating means for effecting end wise movement of knitting instrumentalities, a carrier having grooves therein, selecting elements, one for each knitting instrumentality, adapted to be pivotally mounted in said grooves and having selecting butts in different positions lengthwise thereon, selecting cam means adapted to operate upon said butts, a pattern device for controlling said selecting cam means so that the latter operate selectively upon the selecting butts for the purpose of determining which of the knitting instrumentalities shall be subsequently moved endwise by the aforesaid actuating means, and a cam located behind the selecting elements in the region of their tail ends for pushing previously selected elements outwards preparatory to re-selection, each of said selecting elements being adapted in the region of its tail end to have operative relationship with a companion knitting instrumentality whereby when such elements are acted upon by the selecting cam means and make contact with the actuating means, endwise movement of the corresponding knitting instrumentalities is effected, for the purpose herein set forth.

12. In a knitting machine of the independent needle type, pattern mechanism comprising, in combination, actuating means for effecting endwise movement of knitting instrumentalities, a carrier having grooves therein, selecting elements, one for each knitting instrumentality, adapted to be pivotally mounted in said grooves and having selecting butts in diflerent'positions lengthwise thereon, selecting carn means adapted to operate upon said butts, a pattem device for controlling said selecting cam means so that the latter operate selectively upon"- the selecting butts for the purpose of determining which of the knitting instrumentalities shall be subsequently moved endwise by the aforesaid actuating means, a cam located behind the selecting elements in the region of their tail ends for pushing previously selected elements outwards preparatory to re-selection, and a cam for returning selecting elements to the normal level after they have been acted upon by the actuating means, each of said selecting elements being adapted in the region of its tail end to have operative relationship with a companion knittinginstrumentality whereby when such elements are acted upon by the selecting cam means and make contact with the actuating means, endwise movement of the corresponding knitting instrumentalities is effected, for the purpose herein set forth.

13. Pattern mechanism according to claim 10, wherein the cam means for action on selected selecting elements to restore the same to normal position are arranged for action on the selecting elements at the top and adjacent front portions thereof.

14. Pattern mechanism for knitting machines of the independent needle type comprising, in combination, actuating means for effecting endwise movement of knitting instrumentalities, a carrier having grooves therein, selecting elements, one for each knitting instrumentality. adapted-to be pivotally mounted in said grooves and having selecting butts in different positions lengthwise thereon, intermediate Jacks between the knitting instrumentalities and the selecting elements, selecting cam means adapted to operate upon said butts, a pattern device for controlling said slecting cam means so that the latter operate selectively upon the selecting butts for the purpose of determining which of the knitting instrumentalities shall be subsequently moved endwise by the aforesaid actuating means, each of said selecting elements being adapted in the region of its tail end to have operative relationship with a companion intermediate jack whereby when such elements are acted upon by the selecting cam means and make contact with the actuating means, endwise movement of the corresponding knitting instrumentalities is effected, for the purposes herein set forth.

15. Pattern mechanism according to claim 14, wherein each of the intermediate jacks and the associated knitting instrumentality are formed in one piece.

16. In a circular knitting machine of the double axially opposed needle cylinder type, pattern mechanism for assisting in the transference of pie-selected needles from one cylinder to the other, comprising, in combination, actuating means for effecting endwise movement of needles, a carrier having therein grooves, selecting elements, one for each needle, adapted to be pivotally mounted in said grooves and having selecting butts in different positions lengthwise thereon, a series of needle actuating instrumentalities, one for each needle, selecting cam means adapted to operate upon said butts, a pattern device for controlling said selecting cam means so that the latter operate selectively upon the selecting butts for the purpose of determining which of the needles shall be subsequently moved endwise by the aforesaid actuating means, each of said selecting elements being adapted in the region of its tail end to have operative relationship with the companion needle actuating instrumentality, whereby when such elements are acted 'upon by the selecting cam means and make contact with the actuating means, endwise movement of the corresponding needles is eflected.

17. In combination in a circular knittingmachine, pattern mechanism comprising actuating means for effecting endwise movement of knitting instrumentalities, a carrier having grooves therein, selecting elements, one for each knitting instrumentality, adapted to be pivotally mounted in said grooves and having selecting butts in different positions lengthwise thereon, selecting cam means adapted to operate upon said butts, a pattern device for controlling said selecting cam means so that the latter operate selectively upon the selecting butts for the purpose of determining which of the knitting instrumentalities shall be subsequently moved endwise by the aforesaid actuating means, each of said selecting elements being adapted in the region of its tail end to have operative relationship with a companion knitting instrumentality, whereby when such elements are acted upon by the selecting cam means and make contact with the actuating means, endwise movement of the corresponding knitting instrumentalities is effected, for the purpose herein set forth, and means for restricting patterning to prearranged portions circumferentially of knitted fabric.

18. In a circular knitting machine of the independent needle type, in combination, pattern mechanism comprising actuating means for effecting endwise movement of knitting instrumentalities, a carrier having grooves therein, selecting elements, one for each knitting instrumentality, adapted to be pivotally mounted in said grooves, and having selecting butts in different positions lengthwise thereon, some of said selecting elements being provided with long tails and the remainder with shorter tails, selecting cam means adapted to operate upon said butts, a pattern device for controlling said selecting cam means so that the latter operate selectively upon the selecting butts for the purpose of determining which of the knitting instrumentalities shall be subsequently moved endwise by the aforesaid actuating means, each of said selecting elements being adapted in the region of its tail end to have operative relationship with a companion knitting instrumentality, whereby when such elements are acted upon by the selecting cam means and make contact with the actuating means, endwise movement of the co; responding knitting instrumentalities is effected, for the purpose herein set forth, a return cam for moving previously selected elements to normal position preparatory to re-selection and movable into different planes so that it can act ,on long and short tailed selecting elements, and

means for moving said return cam so as to nullify the selectiv action according to requirements.

19. For use in pattern mechanism for knitting machines, a needle selecting element comprising a stem, substantially straight from end to end, said stem having a projection extending rearwardly from its back at its upper end to constitute a fulcrum point, said stem having at least one frontal selecting butt and having a rearwardly extending butt adjacent its lower end, said stem having a downwardly extending tall at its lower end.

20. The needle selecting element of claim 19,

in combination with a needle actuating element having a jack-like extension at its lower end cooperating with the selecting element and consisting of a generally straight thin member having a forwardly curved lower end for engagement by the rearwardly extending butt of the selecting element.

LESLIE HERBERT LEEDHAM. 

